Adjustable air distribution unit



March 6, 1956 w. w. KENNEDY ADJUSTABLE AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT Filed May 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hwy 5 mm. m n N EH M I W P ATTORNEYS March 1956 w. w. KENNEDY ADJUSTABLE AIR DISTRIBUTION UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4, 1953 INVENTOR. h d/Z e r M Kennedy -ATTORNE Y5 BY 34 QWLW .ADJUSTABLE AIR DISTRIBUTION "UNIT Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, 111,, assig'uor to Barber- "Colman Company, Rockford, 11L, a corporation of Illinois Application May 4, 1953, Serial No. 352,868

Claims; (Cl. 98-

This invention relates to air distribution units of the type usually mounted in ceilings and comprising a plurality of deflector members arranged one within the other and cooperating to define one or moreconcentric downwardly flaring air passages. The invention has more particular reference to an air distribution ,unit of the type in which the deflectors are adjustable axially relative to each other by virtue of their mounting on orsusp'ension at spaced points along radially disposed angularly spaced arms or bars fulcrurned at their outer ends to swing about stationary axes disposed adjacent the outer deflector, the inner ends of said rods terminating adjacent-the center of the distribution unit.

The general object is to provide a mounting for the inner and intermediate deflectors Which is simple toimanufacture and easy to operate by virtue of the novel construction and mounting of the reflector supporting arms.

Another objectis to incorporate in the supporting arms a novel device for deriving-sufficient friction to maintain the adjusted positions of thedeflectors.

A further object is to mount the inner and intermediate deflectors on arms which are of variable length and held frictionally in different positions of adjustment.

The invention also resides in the novel manner of adjusting the length of the supporting arms to thereby adjust the positions of the deflectors.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure l is a diametrical cross-sectional view of adistributionunit embodying the novel featuresof the present invention.

,Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view.

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary section taken onthe line 33 of Fig. 1.

.Figs. 4 and '5 are'fragrnentary sectionstaken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5.

in the form illustrated in the drawings, the improved distribution unit is intended to be set into a ceiling or other wall 'of'a room into which air supplied from a duct (not shown) is delivered through a plurality of concentric or axially alined passages 10 and 11 of different sizes and discharged from the face of the unit in the form of tubelike streams. Each of the air passages is defined by a pairof deflector members one arranged Within the. other and spaced along a common axis. Where, as in the present instance, there are two air passages through the unit,three deflector members 12, 13 and 14 are employed. The passage 10 is defined by the outer and intermediate members 12 and 13 while the passage 11 is formed by the intermediate member coacting with the inner or central member14. The number of airvpassages may, of course, be increased by employing additional intermediate deflectormembera the crossrsectionalshape of which corresponds to the desired cross section of theair passages.

Herein, the outer deflector member 12 comprises a States Patent 0 generally frusto conical shell having a cylindrical neck or inlet end 15 adapted to telescope with and .be secured to a flange of a supply iduct, Immediately below ,the

larger end of the cone, the shell is made generally cylindrical as indicated at 16 and then is bent outwardly SI-lb? stantially atright angles to form a peripheral decorative flange l7 gradually sloping backwardly and terminating in a head which abuts against the ceiling surface in the final installation. w I I I The intermediate deflector 13 is sirnilarly shaped -but,--is asrnaller and somewhat steeper hollow truncated cone also composed 'of sheet metal and having at its-inner end a short cylindrical neck 1-8 concentric with theout er neck 15 but spaced axially and inwardly from thelatter. The larger or outer edge portion of the cone 13 is bent to fopm a generally cylindrical portion 19 and a substantially right angular slightly sloping flange 20 of the same general contour as the flange 17 butslightly narrower in width than the latter. I

Disposed substantially perpendicular to theaxis of the unit is the inner deflector member 14 which herein comprises an imperforate disk having an outer peripheral flange 21 of the samegeneral contour as the -flangesf1 -7 and 20 and somewhat larger indiameter than the neck so that the cross-sectional area of the annular passage 11 is properly proportioned in relation to the crosssectional area of the outer-passage).

The intermediate and central deflector members 13 and 14 are supported from the outer shell 12 for axial adjustment in unison but differentially through propertionately greater distancest enable thedir ection of discharge of the air streams to be varied while maintaining the ratio of the cross-sectional areas of the passages .10 and 11 substantially constant. Thus, the members :13 and 14 may be positioned with their flanges-substantially flush with each other and the flange 17 as shownlin full in Fig. l, or spaced inwardly different distances from the flange 17 as shown in dot-dash outline, or spaced outwardly as shown in dotted outline. 1

The mounting for effecting the differential adjustment of the movable members comprisesa plurality, threein the present instance, of angularly spaced lever arms 23 disposed within the neck portion of the shell 12 and radiating outwardly from points adjacent the axis thereof with each arm supported at its outer end on the neck of the shell to swing about stationary pivots 24 which extend tangentially of theneck 15. To obtainthe d'esired'prd portional adjustment of the deflectors 1 3 and 14, the latter are suspended from the intermediate and inner end portions of the arms 23. Forthis purpose, bracketarms 2-5 welded at 30 to the top of the inner deflector l t converge upwardly and at their upper ends arepivotally connected by cross pins 26to lugs 27 projecting outwardly from a 1 member 28 which is movable along the center axis 29 of the unit. The pins 26 of the respective arms 23 parallel the corresponding supporting pivots.

Short bars 31 welded at angu-larly spaced points to the neck 18 of the-intermediate deflector provide upstanding pairs of lugs 32which straddle the intermediate parts of parts of the arms 23 and are joined to thelatter by pins are rigid with, and protect inwardly from a hoop 3'7 fitting loosely within the neck 15 and secured to the-latter by .angularly spaced bayonet connections 38 (Figs.'2 and 3).

The slots 39 of the latter open upwardly so that by turning the hoop in one direction, the hoop may be disengaged from the pins. 40 thus releasing for easy removal'the entire center assembly comprising the hoop, the arms 23, and the two deflectors mounted thereon.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel friction device is incorporated in arms 23 to derive sufficient friction to prevent unintentional flexing of the arms relative to each other and thereby maintain any selected position of adjustment of the deflectors 13 and 14. For this purpose, the arms 23 are each composed of two parts 23 and 23 slidable longitudinally relative to each other when the arms are flexed manually but frictionally coupled to remain of the selected length under the weight of the arms and the deflectors suspended therefrom.

Herein, the outer part 23 of each arm is a flat straight bar the inner end portion of which is disposed between parallel flanges 41 formed along opposite side edges of the inner part 23 of the arm which is also an elongated bar. The slots 34, 35 are formed in the overlapping portions of the two parts 23: and 23' which are held together by the lugs 32 and the headed pins 33.

While the friction coupling for releasably holding the parts 23 and 23 in adjusted position may take various forms, it is shown herein as comprising spring loaded detents 43 mounted on the bar 23 and engageable in notches 44 formed along the side edges of the bar 23. The detents comprise pointed V-shaped blocks secured to the free ends of leaf springs 45 anchored at 46 to the flanges 41 and projected beyond the outer ends of the latter. The notches 44 cover the full range of elongation and contraction of the arms 23, and the springs 45 are tensioned to urge the detents into the notches with sufficient force to provide the friction necessary to maintain the adjusted relation of the parts 23 and 23* under the weight of the arms and the deflectors supported thereby.

With the arms 23 disposed substantially horizontally as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the outer ends or flanges 20 and 21 of the deflectors 13 and 14 will be disposed in the plane of the flange 17 of the outer deflector. Now if it is desired to project the inner deflector 14 outwardly to the position shown in dotted outline (Fig. 1), this deflector is grasped manually and pulled downwardly. This necessitates elongation of the arms 23 which are thus placed under suflicient longitudinal tension to slip each detent out of one notch 44 and present the same to a succeeding notch in which the detent enters under the force of the springs 45. The new positions of the arms and therefore the deflectors 13 and 14 are thus maintained, the deflector 13 having been moved axially a proportionally shorter distance as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to change the adjustment of the unit and return the deflectors 13 and 14 to the flush position shown in full in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to push upwardly on the center deflector. This compresses and shortens the arms 23 as permitted by slippage of the detents 43 outwardly along the teeth of the bars 23 Pushing of the center deflector upwardly to the position shown in dot-dash outline is accompanied by elongation of the arms 23. In each instance, the new positions of the deflectors 13 and 14 are retained effectually by the action of the several detents.

It will be observed that the construction of the mounting for the movable deflectors is exceedingly simple and at the same time provides for quick and easy adjusting to suit the conditions required for the desired operation of the distribution unit as a whole.

I claim as my invention:

1. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of annular air passages including an outer deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and outer ends each fulcrumed on said outer deflector to swing about a stationary axis normal to the bar and to the axis of the unit and disposed adjacent said outer deflector, pivots radially spaced along said bars and respectively connecting said intermediate and inner deflectors to the bars, a member pivotally connected to said inner bar ends and movable axially of said unit by swinging of the bars about said stationary axes, each of said bars being composed of two parts disposed side by side in overlapping relation and joined for relative sliding to vary the length of the bar between said member and the stationary axis thereof, a series of teeth formed on one of said parts and spaced longitudinally along the latter, a detent mounted on the other part for engagement in the notches between adjacent ones of said teeth, and spring means normally urging said detent into one of said notches.

2. An air distribution unit having, in combination,

means defining a plurality of annular air passages including an outer stationary deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and pivotally connected at radially spaced points to said intermediate and inner deflectors, means supporting each or said bars adjacent the outer end thereof to swing about a stationary axis normal to the bar and to the axis of the unit and disposed adjacent said outer deflector, a member pivotally connected to said inner bar ends and movable axially of said unit by swinging of the bars about said stationary axes, each of said bars being composed of two parts disposed side by side in overlapping relation and joined for relative sliding to vary the length of the bar between said member and the stationary axis thereof, and friction detents acting between the parts of the sliding joints to hold the bars against elongation under the weight of said intermediate and inner deflectors.

3. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of annular air passages including an outer stationary deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit, means supporting each of said bars to swing about a stationary axis normal to the bar and to the axis of the unit and disposed adjacent said outer deflector, said intermediate and inner deflectors being suspended at radially spaced points from said bars, a member pivotally connected to said inner bar ends and movable axially of said unit by swinging of the bars about said stationary axes, each of said bars being composed of two parts disposed side by side in overlapping relation and joined for relative sliding to vary the length of the bar between said member and the stationary axis thereof, and means acting between said parts of at least one of said bars to hold the parts releasably against relative longitudinal shifting under the weight of said inner and intermediate deflector.

4. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of annular air passages including an outer stationary deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adjacent the center of the unit and pivotally connected at radially spaced points to said intermediate and inner deflectors, means supporting each of said bars to swing about a stationary axis normal to the bar and to the axis of the unit and disposed adjacent said outer deflector, a member pivotally connected to said inner bar ends and movable axially of said unit by swinging of the bars about said stationary axes, each of said bars including relatively movable parts to render the bars longitudinally extensible and contractible as an incident to axial adjustment of said member, and means frictionaily resisting extension or contraction of said bars with sufficient force to maintain the adjusted length thereof under the weight of said intermediate and inner deflectors.

5. An air distribution unit having, in combination, means defining a plurality of annular air passages including an outer stationary deflector and successively smaller intermediate and inner deflectors, angularly spaced radially disposed bars having inner ends terminating adiacent the center of the unit, means supporting each of said bars to swing about a stationary axis normal to the bar and to the axis of the unit and disposed adjacent said outer deflector, said intermediate and inner deflectors being suspended at radially spaced points from said bars, a member pivotally connected to said inner bar ends and movable axially of said unit by swinging of the bars about said stationary axes, said bars including longitudinally movable parts to permit axial movement of said member, 10

and means associated with each of said bars and exerting sufficient friction thereon to hold said member against axial shifting under the weight of the bars and said intermediate and inner deflectors.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,355,294 Herbster Aug. 8, 1944 2,627,799 Kurth et a1. Feb. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 365,048 Great Britain Jan. 11, 1932 

